We handle cases nationwide.

Client Suffering from Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Disability Awarded

BRR began experiencing psoriasis of the groin/pelvic area and psoriatic
arthritis of the joints in June 2009. BRR’s health quickly deteriorated
and he soon found himself confined to his bed 16+ hours per day as a result
of the grueling symptoms associated with these medical conditions, including
but not limited to, constant tearing and exacerbation of the skin in the
affected areas, and severe inflammation and pain in all the major and
minor joints of the body. As a result, BRR remained in a non-duty status
for over 2.5 years!

BRR was
finally advised by his agency to consider applying for FERS disability retirement.
Unfortunately, BRR relied solely on the agency to guide him through the
complicated application process, and as a result, his application was
promptly denied by OPM. BRR then sought assistance from this firm to help
him prepare and submit his Reconsideration Appeal to OPM. Immediately
evident was the poor quality and abysmal organizational structure of the
original application package. The information contained within was fraught
with discrepancies and inaccuracies. It’s really no wonder that
OPM denied the initial application.
In one section of the application, the agency actually informed OPM that
BRR had beenaccommodated for his medical conditions, which was completely untrue!

With our work cut out for us, we scrutinized both the initial application
and the denial letter from OPM, thus allowing us to identify and rectify
all of the discrepancies, inaccuracies, and completely false information
contained in the original application. Where applicable, we provided additional
medical evidence and documentation to support our claims/arguments. We
even included references to recent MSPB case law applicable to our client’s
appeal. In the end, we were able to clearly show that BRR met the legal
requirements for FERS disability retirement, and OPM promptly issued BRR
his acceptance letter!

Disability

Disability Awarded

A
rural-carrier postal employee who suffers from several physical medical conditions, including
lumbar subluxation,
lumbar radiculitis,
sciatica, and
lumbar strain/sprain.

We are delighted that we were able to assist this client throughout the
entire application process and that we were able to help this client secure
these important benefits.

Disability

Disability Awarded

A
vocational rehabilitation specialist who suffers from a
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
and
post-concussion syndrome.
We are delighted that we were able to assist this client throughout the
entire application process (including frequent interaction with his agency
on his behalf) and that we were able to help him secure these important
benefits for him and his family.

OPM Disability Acceptance

Disability Awarded

A Clinical Nurse who suffers from major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder,
panic disorder with agoraphobia, and social phobia.

OPM Disability Acceptance

Disability Awarded

A Community Planner who suffers from major depressive disorder, bi-polar
disorder, and mood disorder.

OPM Disability Acceptance

Disability Awarded

A Social Insurance Specialist who suffers from advanced coronary artery disease.

Reinstated with Full Back Pay

Attorney Pines and AFGE 1633 were victorious in having the arbitrator find
that a VA Canteen employee was wrongfully removed, and therefore should
be put back to work and paid back pay for over a year and half of pay.

Successfully Fights Alleged violation of Last Chance Agreement

Reinstated

The Law Offices of Eric L. Pines successfully represented a V.A. employee
at the Washington D.C. V.A. Hospital recently who was removed for allegedly
violating a Last Chance Agreement by being AWOL on three separate occasions.
The firm argued before the MSPB Administrative Judge that the agency failed
to prove that the V.A. employee was actually AWOL on the days in question
arguing that the V.A. employee was not present at work on the day in question
solely because she was attending a training for her office. The MSPB Judge
pressured the Agency representative to settle the case and to reinstate
the employee. Other remedies include full back pay under the Back Pay
Act and Attorneys Fees. The employee received her job back and was rather
pleased with the outcome.

V.A. Title 38 Nurse Has AIB Charges Dropped and Record Cleaned

Charges Dropped

The Pines Law Firm, led by Eric Pines, Esq. and Stephen Goldenzweig successfully
represented V.A. Nurse in AIB Hearing and assisted the Nurse with having
his records cleaned and charges dropped. The Nurse had been wrongfully
accused of beating elderly patients, however, the V.A. had no evidence
whatsoever to support its charges. Instead, the V.A. used the testimony
of disgruntled V.A. patients who were not psychologically stable to drum
up charges against the nurse. These charges would have likely lead to
the employees removal and loss of his nursing license. The Pines firm
assisted the client during his AIB investigation and with an intensive
rebuttal which included testimony of witnesses and documentary evidence.
Ultimately the V.A. did the right thing when the AIB came to the conclusion
that the charges had been wrongfully brought. The charges were completely
dropped and the nurse was put back to work in his job with a clean and
unblemished record.

Suspension Removed & Back Pay

In Re:
Velena West vs. V.A, DAB Case 51 (2012), Attorney Eric L. Pines represented a Nurse at the
Michael Debakey Houston VA Hospital before the VA Disciplinary Appeals
Board. The case went to a three-day hearing before a board of three nurse
peers. The nurse was wrongfully accused of mistreating a veteran. The
testimony included 15 witnesses. Specifically, the director of the VA
Hospital, Mr. Adam Walmus, was convincingly cross-examined by attorney
Pines. Ultimately, The Board felt that Mr. Walmus should have presented
the nurse with his findings and given her the opportunity to respond to
the charges. The Board ultimately decided 100% in favor of the Appellant.
She is to receive full back-pay and the suspension will be removed from
her records in its entirety. A petition for attorneys’ fees is pending.

Wrongfully Terminated Veterans Administration Employee Gets Job Back

Reinstated with Full Back Pay

In an exciting precedent-setting victory, The Law Office of Eric L. Pines,
PLLC has successfully helped a
Veterans Administration employee get her job back after being wrongfully terminated for using leave for
the birth of her child and to care for her autistic and blind children.

The VA had relied upon esoteric legalistic arguments to say that because
the employee worked in the Canteen Service, she was not entitled to file
a grievance on her termination.

Federal employee attorney Eric Pines and AFGE Local 1633 representative
Michael King successfully argued that the employee was entitled to a hearing,
as grievance rights are separate from rights to appeal to the MSPB.

The agency was ordered to
reinstate the grievant with full back pay and lost benefits for over a
year and a half of lost pay. Additionally, the arbitrator requested a petition for attorney’s fees.

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